Layers

Layers are the building blocks of compositions. Each layer must have exactly one source: type, file, or composition.

Top-level layer authoring is done via _timeline:

_timeline:
  layers:
    - name: title
      type: text
      text: Hello World

You can also update or remove existing layers:

_timeline:
  set:
    layers:
      - name: title
        transform:
          position: [960, 500]
  remove:
    layers:
      - name: temp guide

For selected-layer updates/removals, use _selected (see Actions).

Rules for set/remove:

• Layers are matched by exact name.
• If no layer matches, Compdown errors.
• If multiple layers match the same name, Compdown errors.

Layer source

Every layer needs exactly one of:

Property	Description
type	Built-in layer type
file	Reference to an imported file
composition	Reference to another composition

layers:
  # Type-based layer
  - name: background
    type: solid
    color: 000000

  # File-based layer
  - name: footage
    file: my-video  # References a file id

  # Composition-based layer
  - name: nested
    composition: Lower Third  # References a composition name

Built-in layer types

Type	Description	Required properties
solid	Solid color layer	color
null	Null object (invisible)	—
adjustment	Adjustment layer	—
text	Text layer	text
camera	Camera layer	—
light	Light layer	lightType
shape	Shape layer	shapes

Common properties

These apply to all layer types:

Core identity

Property	Type	Required	Description
_id	string	no	Reusable layer template id (within the same layer array)
_extends	string	no	Inherit from a layer _id in the same layer array
name	string	yes	Layer name
essentialProperties	object	no (composition layers only)	Override Essential Graphics controller values on this precomp instance

Inheritance (_id / _extends)

You can define base layer templates and derive new layers from them.

_timeline:
  layers:
    - _id: textBase
      name: Base
      type: text
      text: Hello
      fontSize: 96

    - _extends: textBase
      name: Title
      text: World

Rules:

• Works in compositions[].layers and _timeline.layers.
• _extends can only target _id values in the same layer array.
• Object values are merged deeply.
• Array values are replaced (not concatenated).
• Duplicate _id, missing _extends targets, and circular inheritance fail validation.

See Inheritance for full inheritance behavior and additional examples.

Essential Graphics overrides (essentialProperties)

Use essentialProperties on precomp instance layers (composition layers):

- name: Intro Instance
  composition: Intro
  essentialProperties:
    Headline: "New headline"
    Accent Color: [1, 0.4, 0.2]

Rules:

• Only valid on layers that use composition.
• Keys are controller names shown in Essential Graphics.
• Keys must match exactly one controller per layer.
• Color controllers accept hex strings like ff0000 (or #ff0000).

Timing

Property	Type	Description
inPoint	number	In point (seconds)
outPoint	number	Out point (seconds)
startTime	number	Start time offset

Switches and toggles

Property	Type	Description
enabled	boolean	Layer visibility
shy	boolean	Shy flag
locked	boolean	Lock flag
solo	boolean	Solo the layer
threeDLayer	boolean	Enable 3D
audioEnabled	boolean	Enable audio
motionBlur	boolean	Enable motion blur
collapseTransformation	boolean	Continuously rasterize
guideLayer	boolean	Mark as guide layer
effectsActive	boolean	Global effects toggle
timeRemapEnabled	boolean	Enable time remapping

Parenting and rendering

Property	Type	Description
parent	string	Parent layer name
blendingMode	string	Blending mode
quality	string	best, draft, wireframe
samplingQuality	string	bicubic, bilinear
autoOrient	string	off, alongPath, cameraOrPointOfInterest
frameBlendingType	string	none, frameMix, pixelMotion
trackMatteType	string	none, alpha, alphaInverted, luma, lumaInverted
label	int	Color label (0-16)

---

Solid layers

Solid color layers. Require a color property.

- name: background
  type: solid
  color: 1a1a2e

Solid properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
color	string	yes	6-char hex color
width	int	no	Width (defaults to comp)
height	int	no	Height (defaults to comp)

---

Null layers

Invisible layers used for parenting and expressions.

- name: controller
  type: null
  threeDLayer: true

---

Adjustment layers

Apply effects to all layers below.

- name: color grade
  type: adjustment
  effects:
    - name: Curves
      matchName: ADBE CurvesCustom

---

Text layers

Text layers with styling options. Require a text property.

- name: headline
  type: text
  text: Breaking News
  fontSize: 72
  font: Arial
  fillColor: FFFFFF
  justification: center

Text properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
text	string	yes	Text content
fontSize	number	no	Font size
font	string	no	Font family
fillColor	string	no	Fill color (hex)
strokeColor	string	no	Stroke color (hex)
strokeWidth	number	no	Stroke width
tracking	number	no	Character spacing
leading	number	no	Line spacing
justification	string	no	left, center, right

---

Camera layers

3D cameras for perspective views.

- name: Main Camera
  type: camera
  cameraType: twoNode
  zoom: 1000
  depthOfField: true
  focusDistance: 500

Camera properties

Property	Type	Description
cameraType	string	oneNode, twoNode
zoom	number	Camera zoom
depthOfField	boolean	Enable DOF
focusDistance	number	Focus distance
aperture	number	Aperture
blurLevel	number	Blur level (0-100)

---

Light layers

3D lights for illumination. Require a lightType property.

- name: Key Light
  type: light
  lightType: spot
  intensity: 100
  lightColor: FFFFEE
  coneAngle: 90
  castsShadows: true

Light properties

Property	Type	Required	Description
lightType	string	yes	parallel, spot, point, ambient
intensity	number	no	Light intensity
lightColor	string	no	Light color (hex)
coneAngle	number	no	Spot cone angle (0-180)
coneFeather	number	no	Cone feather (0-100)
castsShadows	boolean	no	Enable shadows
shadowDarkness	number	no	Shadow darkness (0-100)
shadowDiffusion	number	no	Shadow diffusion

---

Shape layers

Parametric shapes with fill and stroke. See Shapes for complete documentation.

- name: Button
  type: shape
  shapes:
    - type: rectangle
      size: [200, 50]
      roundness: 10
      fill:
        color: 3498db

---

File-based layers

Layers sourced from imported footage.

files:
  - id: hero
    path: /path/to/video.mp4

compositions:
  - name: Main
    layers:
      - name: Hero Video
        file: hero
        transform:
          position: [960, 540]

---

Composition layers (nesting)

Embed another composition as a layer.

compositions:
  - name: Lower Third
    layers:
      - name: bar
        type: solid
        color: FF0000

  - name: Main Comp
    layers:
      - name: lower third instance
        composition: Lower Third
        transform:
          position: [960, 980]

---

Blending modes

Available values for blendingMode:

normal, dissolve, darken, multiply, colorBurn, linearBurn, darkerColor, lighten, screen, colorDodge, linearDodge, lighterColor, overlay, softLight, hardLight, vividLight, linearLight, pinLight, hardMix, difference, exclusion, subtract, divide, hue, saturation, color, luminosity

---

Parenting

Link layers with the parent property:

layers:
  - name: controller
    type: null

  - name: element
    type: solid
    color: FF0000
    parent: controller  # Will follow controller's transform

The parent layer must exist (by name) in the same composition.